Wisdom from a gunsmith

L. Boscoe · April 25, 2022, 11:08 AM

My favorite gunsmith, whose main work is building competition
1911's, told me that the culprit behind SWC not feeding properly is
not the feed ramp but the magazine. He said they trim about 0.030
off the mag lip to help feeding SWC rounds. Is this news? It certainly was to me.

jcj54 · April 25, 2022, 11:14 AM

Feeding SWC requires properly configured feed lips in the magazine and a properly fitted extractor.
If either of these is missing feeding SWC is problematic.
I have known this for decades.

**Aguila Blanca** · April 25, 2022, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L. Boscoe

My favorite gunsmith, whose main work is building competition
1911's, told me that the culprit behind SWC not feeding properly is
not the feed ramp but the magazine. He said they trim about 0.030
off the mag lip to help feeding SWC rounds. Is this news? It certainly was to me.

Which type of magazine is he talking about? There are three different feed lip configurations for 1911s -- the original, Browning-designed "GI" feed lips, the "Wadcutter" style feed lips, and the hybrid style that combines elements from both the GI style and the wadcutter style.

L. Boscoe · April 25, 2022, 03:02 PM

Dunno which kind-looks like I need to REALLY study up on these magazines. CZ and Tanfoglio and Sig don't have this complexity, do
they?

**4V50 Gary** · April 25, 2022, 03:26 PM

Photos from top view and side view please?

**Aguila Blanca** · April 25, 2022, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L. Boscoe

Dunno which kind-looks like I need to REALLY study up on these magazines.

https://forum.m1911.org/showthread.p...brid-Magazines

https://forum.m1911.org/showthread.p...rent-followers

**Aguila Blanca** · April 25, 2022, 03:53 PM

More pics, courtesy of Niemi24s at the M1911.org forum:

std7mag · April 25, 2022, 05:14 PM

I throated my barrel per the Wilson Combat videos on Youtube.
Doesn't matter which magazine i use, it'll feed an empty case.
Used to have issues with 185gr LSWC before.
Not anymore.

Mike38 · April 25, 2022, 08:03 PM

The Metalform wadcutter mag cured all my problems when I discovered it 25 years ago. Matter of fact, two of the ones I have are still the originals from back then. I haven't even had to change the springs. 25 years and still working great.

Jim Watson · April 26, 2022, 08:54 AM

My hitherto reliable gun decided it wasn't going to deal in SWCs any more at a match on Saturday, two misfunctions in 75 rounds. Maybe it was the magazine, I was working out of a Duke's mixture. Any road, that was the last SWC in the house, it will be roundnose in the future. Components are too expensive to test and tune specialty ammo.

Hawg · April 27, 2022, 08:52 AM

My Rock Island is all original except for CMC mags and grips. All it gets is home cast SWC's and some Tula now and then. It hasn't had a hiccup in 11 years. It too feeds empty cases.

April 25, 2022, 11:08 AM	#1
L. Boscoe Senior Member Join Date: October 30, 2021 Posts: 285	Wisdom from a gunsmith My favorite gunsmith, whose main work is building competition 1911's, told me that the culprit behind SWC not feeding properly is not the feed ramp but the magazine. He said they trim about 0.030 off the mag lip to help feeding SWC rounds. Is this news? It certainly was to me.

April 25, 2022, 03:02 PM	#4
L. Boscoe Senior Member Join Date: October 30, 2021 Posts: 285	Wisdom from a gunsmith Dunno which kind-looks like I need to REALLY study up on these magazines. CZ and Tanfoglio and Sig don't have this complexity, do they?

April 25, 2022, 03:26 PM	#5
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,831	Photos from top view and side view please? __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

April 25, 2022, 05:14 PM	#8
std7mag Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Location: Central Taxylvania.. Posts: 3,609	I throated my barrel per the Wilson Combat videos on Youtube. Doesn't matter which magazine i use, it'll feed an empty case. Used to have issues with 185gr LSWC before. Not anymore. __________________ When our own government declares itself as "tyrannical", where does that leave us??!! "Januarary 6th insurrection". Funny, I didn't see a single piece of rope...

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April 25, 2022, 11:14 AM	#2
jcj54 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2011 Posts: 218	Feeding SWC requires properly configured feed lips in the magazine and a properly fitted extractor. If either of these is missing feeding SWC is problematic. I have known this for decades.

April 25, 2022, 08:03 PM	#9
Mike38 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2009 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 2,710	The Metalform wadcutter mag cured all my problems when I discovered it 25 years ago. Matter of fact, two of the ones I have are still the originals from back then. I haven't even had to change the springs. 25 years and still working great.

April 26, 2022, 08:54 AM	#10
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,535	My hitherto reliable gun decided it wasn't going to deal in SWCs any more at a match on Saturday, two misfunctions in 75 rounds. Maybe it was the magazine, I was working out of a Duke's mixture. Any road, that was the last SWC in the house, it will be roundnose in the future. Components are too expensive to test and tune specialty ammo.

April 27, 2022, 08:52 AM	#11
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	My Rock Island is all original except for CMC mags and grips. All it gets is home cast SWC's and some Tula now and then. It hasn't had a hiccup in 11 years. It too feeds empty cases.